Calif. pastor highlights debate about churches and finances

Ran across this L.A. Times story about a pastor accused of financial impropriety who later apologized to his congregation and is trying to rectify the matter.

For some at the church, the turn of events was difficult because it pitted their loyalties to a pastor who may have led them forward spiritually in deep and meaningful ways against their sense of justice about donated funds and the moral and legal obligations of their church body.

For others, they defended their pastor through it all and believed the matter has little or no bearing on his entire work and ministry.

Similar issues have emerged in San Antonio with the North Side church, Summit Christian Center , and its pastor Rick Godwin whose spending of church money came under question. The church has a couple lawsuits pending that deal with issues of its finances.

It is part of a national debate about how much of a public issue the use of donated funds at churches should be. There’s the ongoing investigation into six well-known church ministries by two members of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. There’s a growing debate among Christians about whether such scrutiny violates the right to privacy for religious groups that is protected by the Constitution.

What the story ends with is what is really a hot topic in this overall issue and that is the impact of churches’ management of their finances on public funds. If churches are to be tax exempt, should they require more disclosure? And in this North Carolina TV ministry, should it receive public funds for economic development when its financial matters are kept private and seem to be in question.